Study of the impact of organic nitrate production on ozone production in a southeastern mixed forest environment using a 0-D photochemical model

Organic nitrates (RONO2 + ROONO2) act as an important sink for both organic alkoxy and peroxy and NOx (NO+NO2) radicals, and thus their production can have a significant limiting impact on ozone production. However, there remains significant uncertainty on the formation yields and fates of organic nitrates in the atmosphere. This certainly applies to the biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), which can often be the dominant reaction partner for OH and thus precursors to the peroxy radicals that produce ozone. Observations of BVOCs and total isoprene and monoterpene nitrates were measured as part of the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study in the summer of 2013, at the SEARCH Centreville site in rural, central Alabama. A 0-D box model was constructed to observe the effect of individual and total organic nitrates on ozone production potential, to determine the relative importance of each species in organic nitrate formation. Here we examine the impact of yield uncertainty, and secondary oxidation reactions that might release NOx from the primary organic nitrates.